Skimmer spoon



H. PER RI N SKIMMER SPOON June 25, 1957 Filed Dec. 4, 1953 INVEN'fO R 4E 42 Ja /g]? Permn A 7-w'rm ATTORNEYS United States PatentO SKJMMER "SPOON Hugh Perrin, Chevy Chase, Md.

' Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,230

2 Claims. or. 210-471 I This invention is a skimmer spoon for skimming froth, foam, cream, floating particles and the like from liquids, as in cooking jellies, preserves, gravies and the like. The skimmer can also be used as a strainer and as a stirring spoon.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved skimmer of sturdy and durable construction, which will serve as a skimmer, strainer and stirrer.

The skimmer spoon of this invention utilizes a relatively fine wire mesh, and it is an important feature of the invention to provide a durable and strong frame for the wire mesh, which is relatively fragile and liable to puncture and breakage.

The skimmer spoon of this invention comprises a relatively strong border or edge portion, of sheet metal or relatively heavy wire, to which is secured the usual handle. Bridged across from one border to the other, is a plurality of ribs, extending longitudinally or transversely or both, thereby to define a skeleton frame, with relatively large openings therein. Extending across the skeleton frame and over the openings in the skeleton frame is a mesh of fine wire, conveniently about 32 wires to the linear inch. This wire is secured to the border and is supported by said ribs.

The ribs may be above or below the wire mesh. The wire mesh may, if desired, be secured to said ribs as well as to the border.

In order to secure the wire mesh more firmly to the border, an outer protecting wire or enclosing metal sheath may be used, secured to the border with the outer edge of the wire mesh sandwiched between said border and outer wire or sheath.

In one aspect of the invention, the re-enforcing ribs may be omitted, for this reason: the fine wire mesh is smoothly curved longitudinally and laterally, substantially in the shape of a tablespoon, and its peripheral edges strongly secured to the outer frame. The mesh therefore is arched both longitudinally and laterally, in smooth curves, and this arched eifect stifiens the wire to such an extent that the re-enforcing ribs may be omitted.

Further features of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing several ways of carrying out the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skimmer spoon of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross-section, enlarged, on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modification.

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross-section, on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a second modification.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to these drawings, the skimmer spoon comprises a concave body portion 2 of sheet metal, in-

r 2,796,992 Patented June' k l957 a 2 r eluding-a border, having at one. end-an enlarged border portion 4, to whichtis'secured by rivets 6 or by solder, or both, ahandle 8.v I

Integral with the enlarged border portion 4 is a narrower'periphe'ral border 10. Integral with border portions 4 and 10 and bridged thereacross are one or more ribs, preferably a central longitudinal rib 12, from which branch integral, lateral ribs 14, the outer ends of ribs 14 being integral with border '10. The border portions 4 and 10 are of sheet metal and .form a concave, arched skeleton frame, with relatively large openings 16 and 18 therein.-

Bridged across openings 16 and 18'is a fine wire mesh 20 shown here as below or outside of the openings, although the wire could be above the openings if desired. The mesh may be of any desired size, 32 wires to the linear inch being a desirable mesh. The outer edge of wire mesh 20 is secured, as by brazing, soldering, welding or clamping to the borderlG. The wire mesh may be similarly secured to the ribs, if desired. Preferably an outer protecting length of wire 22 is secured, as by brazing or welding, to the outer border portions 4 and 10 and tothe mesh, so that the outer edge of the wire is sandwiched between 4 and 10 and wire 22.. The wire mesh is relatively fragile and by itself might tend to break loose at its outer edges; this is prevented by the supporting and protecting wire 22.

Referring to the modification of Figures 4, 5 and 6, the skimmer spoon comprises a peripheral border 30 of relatively heavy wire, the ends being secured to each other and to handle 8 at 32.

Bridged across the border 30 is a plurality of ribs 34 made of heavy wire, forming a skeleton frame with relatively large openings between the ribs or wires 34. Wire mesh 36 extends across the wire frame, preferably above ribs 34, so that the ribs 34 protect the wire mesh, although the mesh could be below the ribs 34 if desired. The wire mesh may be brazed or welded to the ribs, if desired.

In the modification of Figure 7, there is shown a fine wire mesh 40, which is IC-eIlfOICCd by heavier wires 42 and 43, arranged singly or in pairs, as shown, these heavier wires being interwoven with the finer wires in a checkerboard pattern and acting as strengthening and re-enforcing ribs.

Figure 8 shows the wire mesh 40 bent around the peripheral edge 44 and clamped thereto by a U-shaped clamp 46 tightly pressed into clamping engagement with 40 and 44. Such a clamp could be used in connection with the forms shown in Figures 1-6.

The re-enforcin-g ribs 14 and 16, 34, 42 and 43 could, if desired, be omitted entirely and the body of the skimmer formed of fine wire mesh, welded, brazed, soldered or clamped to the peripheral edge of the spoon, the out wardly convex shape of the mesh forming longitudinal and lateral arches, the effect of which is to make the mesh quite rigid, even'though the mesh is rather fine.

The skimmer spoon of this invention is strong and durable, the smoothly curved arched effect of the wire mesh, in combination with its being clamped to a rigid peripheral edge serving to stiffen the wire mesh and render it substantially rigid. Additionally, the wire mesh is still further stiffened and re-enforced, if desired, by the described ribs forming a skeleton frame for the wire. The skimmer spoon due to the described sturdy construction, can also be used for stirring.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been described in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact structures shown, but may be carried out in other ways.

I claim as my invention:

1. A skimmer spoon for skimming foam, and froth from liquids, comprising a rigid border, a handle secured checkerboard pattern for strengthening and reenforcing to said border, a fine wire mesh secured to and supported by said border, a substantially U-shaped clamp bent around said border and around the peripheral edges of said fine wire mesh for securing said fine wire mesh to said border, and a plurality of relatively heavy wires, coextensive with the fine wire mesh and interwoven therewith and positioned at right angles to each other in a checkerboard pattern and secured at their ends to said border for protecting and reenforcing said fine-wire mesh.

2. A skimmer spoon for skimming foam, and froth from liquids, comprising a rigid border, a handle secured to said border, and a body portion of fine wire mesh secured to and supported by said border, said fine wire the vfine wire mesh.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 131,356 Woginrich Feb. 10, 1942 826,989 Von Busse July 24, 1906 827,101 Hutchins July 31, 1906 948,185 Muhler Feb. 1, 1910 990,138 Johnson Apr. 18, 1911 1,286,235 Collier Dec. 3, 1918 1,800,872 Peterson Apr. 14, 1931 2,117,876 Echternach May 17, 1938 2,283,488 Cox May 29, 1942 2,532,052 Berman Nov. 28, 1950 

